Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

तस्य पुत्रो बलिश्चासीन्महादानी शिवप्रियः । येन वामनरूपाय हरयेऽदायि मेदिनी

Transliteration

tasya putro baliścāsīnmahādānī śivapriyaḥ | yena vāmanarūpāya haraye'dāyi medinī

Translation

اس کا بیٹا بلی نہایت سخی بادشاہ اور شیو کا محبوب بھکت تھا؛ اسی نے وامن روپ دھارنے والے ہری کو زمین دان میں سونپ دی۔

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him (Virocana)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• महादानी: very generous
• महादानी: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महादानिन् (प्रातिपदिक: महा + दानिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् दानी)

• शिवप्रियः: dear to Śiva
• शिवप्रियः: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक: शिव + प्रिय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य प्रियः)

• येन: by whom
• येन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; 'by whom')
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• वामनरूपाय: to (him) in the form of Vāmana
• वामनरूपाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामनरूप (प्रातिपदिक: वामन + रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वामनस्य रूपम्)

• हरये: to Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• अदायि: was given
• अदायि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; 'was given'

• मेदिनी: the earth
• मेदिनी: कर्म (Karma/Object in passive; patient/प्राप्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Shiva
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Vamana
• Earth (Medini)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse praises Bali’s mahādāna (great charity) as an expression of inner detachment and devotion—qualities that make one “śiva-priya,” dear to Lord Śiva. True giving is shown as surrendering possessiveness, not merely donating wealth.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Calling Bali “śiva-priyaḥ” highlights that Saguna Śiva is pleased by bhakti expressed through humility, truthfulness, and self-offering. In Liṅga worship, offerings symbolize relinquishing ego and ownership—mirrored here by Bali’s gift of the earth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dana (charity) performed with Shiva-bhakti—offer food, clothing, or service on auspicious days while mentally dedicating the act to Śiva and repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate non-possessiveness.